|
Express and Echo (Exeter)
June 24, 2006 Saturday
HEADLINE: Taxi office attacker jailed for 30 months
A thug who launched a sickening attack on three taxi office workers has been jailed for 30 months.
And last night, one of his victims said she was overjoyed he was serving a prison sentence.
Exeter Crown Court was told staff at the taxi office on the Strand at Dawlish were punched and kicked by drunken Gary Frost. One driver, aged 71, suffered a deep cut under his eye in the Boxing Day attack.
Yesterday, phone operator Hilary Pincott, 65, and her family wept tears of relief when the 38-year-old was jailed.
They praised Judge Miranda Robertshaw for imposing a five-year anti-social behaviour order on Frost, of Newlands, Dawlish, banning him from visiting Dawlish Taxis or contacting it, even to hail a cab.
The court heard Frost punched Mrs Pincott to the floor, grabbed her by the shoulders as she lay helpless, then struck mechanic Paul Collins who came to her aid. When Peter Wareham tried to help, Frost repeatedly punched the 71-year-old in the face, smashing his glasses and leaving him needing 10 stitches.
The court was told that Frost, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and affray, had a previous conviction for a public order offence after a similar attack on taxi staff at a cab rank.
Mrs Pincott told the Echo: "I feel sorry for Frost's family that he has been sent to prison but I'm relieved that he has been jailed. I'm very pleased with the sentence. He punched me so hard that I split the plaster wall of the office when I fell. I'm still in agony, taking painkillers and sleeping tablets, and I can't face doing night shifts at work."
She added: "Peter is a lovely chap. If he and Paul hadn't turned up to help me I dread to think what the outcome would have been."
Judge Robertshaw told Frost: "You vented your aggression upon completely innocent people who provide a valuable service to the public.
"You were belligerent, ferocious and aggressive, leaving the victims with little opportunity to protect themselves."
Frost turned up at the office with his wife at 11pm on Boxing Day, after Mrs Pincott had put the phone down when he made an offensive, drunken call to order a taxi. He pushed his way into the private section of the office, in front of three shocked customers, hurled a phone and radio to the floor and attacked the helpless woman.
Customers ran for help and staff transmitted an emergency code to drivers while coming to her aid. Frost fled after the 20-minute spree of violence and when caught had to be restrained by police. He claimed it was a spur of the moment incident and that he had acted in self-defence.
Marc Deegan, in mitigation, said Frost had good references, one from his employer, and was remorseful. Frost was told he must serve half his sentence before being released on licence.
.......................................
|
Login
Register
FAQ
